Chris, I can't help you with the shades, but I wonder can you maybe change the harp size? I just purchased two swing arm lamps on CL a few months ago and hated the cheap shades but wound up finding some neat ones at a thrift store that happened to fit as if they were made special for them. The harp on mine is different than table lamp harps (it's called a cup harp) but I found some online at the link below. Hopefully this could save you from purchasing new shades which are way more costly than harps. You might check locally for a lighting repair shop where you can try out the shades with various sizes of harps. Here is a link that might be useful: lamp harps

Okay, well that's a whole lotta function in the lamp. I know you probably researched this to death, so I say okay to the chrome. Maybe a few hits of chrome here and there across the room to balance... As for matching the color to the table lamp...I see there are infinite color choices. You could get the lamp and then get the RGB info and do the match that way. I have to confess, I don't actually know how to manage that computer/technical part of color. (Funcolors could probably help.) I don't know about cat hair, but I can tell you that microsuede holds up well to kids. It might be a reasonable compromise...the practicality of leather with the softness (and potential for a bazillion colors) of fabric. Or, there is Crypton, which is kinda pricey, but comes in some great contemporary prints. Or Sunbrella style fabrics for indoors. All this implies custom, of course. But, depending on what you're after (parson's chairs?) it could be done. WOAHHHH... I just scrolled back up to see what you said about chairs. What about your chairs? Would you consider keeping them? They are the most comfortable things on the planet! I love that the low backs don't take up much visual space in the room. You would have a world of fabrics to choose from if you recovered the existing chairs. So much fun! And then there is the chrome to balance the light fixture. Not to mention the money you could save spent on something else. And your friends and neighbors would think you're terribly clever to incorporate what you already own in such a stylish manner... ;-) I don't remember if you discussed chairs in another thread. Perhaps you don't like those chairs and can't wait to have something new. But, I see potential for them, depending on your tolerance and their condition. If you don't want them, I'll be right down...

Bird Lover - First I check the marked down banged up sections at Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Home Goods etc. for black ones. It's easy to take take a black sharpie to the dings and cover them up. Then I head to my local IKEA for white or brown ones (I justed started using frames other than black) as well as black ones if I don't have the correct sized black one on hand. Whenever I come across a cheap gallery frame and I have a few extra bucks on hand I buy it and store it. Years of doing this has given me quite an on-hand selection. I used an IKEA poster sized frame for my wedding picture and had Michaels cut a custom mat and frame it for me during one of their sales. The total cost for frame and having Michaels do everything else was $60: Bronwynsmom - Oops! I'm looking to possibly do my LR lampshades in a blue and white pattern. I saw something similar in last months HB where they used a patterned ginger jar lamp and topped it w/ a patterned pleated shade and it looked great. I know that it would be easier to find a solid blue lamp shade but I don't want a blue cast in the room. Thanks TH - always so good to see you around here (she's the inspiration for my black ceiling)!

I would go with a fabric drum shade. Here's a guide on how to pick the right size shade: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-choose-the-right-size-lamp-shade-apartment-therapy-tutorials-107600